Elffinger
Umbraa gelida
Silentaceae (the Silence family)
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Description
An epiphytic grower attaching to bark and stone without rooting in soil. Feathery, finely divided leaves resembling green lace.
Five-petaled blooms spiral open in a Fibonacci pattern, colored frost blue. Blooms when specific stars align.
Habitat
Grows in the shadow of libraries and places where books are kept.
Traditional Uses
Stems were woven into wreaths for doorways during festivals.
Folklore
Believed to mark the boundaries between the seen and unseen worlds.
Similar Species
Often mistaken for Crowherb.
Conservation
Recovering after near-extinction in the previous century.
Field Notes
Look for characteristic growth pattern on north-facing surfaces.